Holly's Video

Hi Guys

This is the link to Holly's video ( the new edition ). You may see the video directly in the web page or hit the download button and save it for yourself.

Link : https://www.dropbox.com/s/3cd844sxg9uw5lp/5ABspring2013.m4v.

If you have any problem with the video, please let me know.

Best Regards

Dennis

Dear Students...

At the end of the semester, I always have conflicting feelings. On the one hand, I'm happy that I'm going to get some time off. On the other hand, I'm sad that we have to disband after building our very own little international community and finally getting truly at ease with each other. So, bittersweet, as I said on the video...

You all should feel very proud of yourselves. You are reading, writing, speaking, living, breathing, maybe even dreaming by now in English. This is quite an accomplishment and your levels of fluency are truly impressive. Each and every one of you has made progress. It's not easy to do what you're doing, but you're doing it. Some days better, some days worse, but you're doing it.

For those of you staying in Houston, please come and visit me at the LCC or email me (holly_cin@yahoo.com) or call (713-721-3460) to say hi. If you throw a party, invite me and I will try my best to come. Also, if you need anything while you are in Houston, and I can be of help, feel free to contact me. Former students often consult with me on their academic decisions as well as their parking tickets and baby questions! Should you have a legal issue, my husband is a good person to consult. If in the future you lose my contact information, you can always call the LCC office and they'll know how to reach me. At the very least, you can remember my last name. That's Cin. C-I-N. Like cinammon. Or cinema. Of course I hope you will remember more than my last name!

For those of you entering the university, I wish you tremendous success. It won't be easy but with hard work and determination you will achieve your goals. To be a successful student requires a good brain (which you all have) and a lot of hard work.

For those of you returning home (Francisco, others?), I wish you a safe and pleasant journey and I hope you continue to learn and to practice, and I hope to see you in your country one of these days soon.

Finally, I want to congratulate Karina and Maryam for being chosen as outstanding students. There were many very bright and hard working students in both classes so it was not easy to isolate the "most outstanding."

Thanks, 5A and 5B, for a really great semester. I have enjoyed not only teaching with you, but getting to know you and hanging out with you too. I will miss both classes a lot. I had fun with you guys practically every day.

Yours,
Holly

Picnic Stuff

Hi guys,

I need to know who is going to the picnic to Huntsville and what are you going to bring that day. Please let me know in order to avoid misunderstandings.

Please let me know ASAP or post something on the blog

Dennis

Take home reading test

Guys,
I have tests from the following people.

5A:
Maeva, Suliman, Talal, Ahmed, Abdul, Dennis, Karina, Igor, Hang, Jennifer, Francisco, Song, and Serena

(missing tests from Jinda, Essa, Rita, and Xiao)

5B:
Maryam, Fatimah, Monny, Phuong, Ibrahim, America, and Zhao

(missing tests from Suzan, Moath, Jean, Sam, Merry, Hamzah, Tim, Sara, and Kexin)


Please let me know if the above is incorrect.

Conference Schedule for 5B

Thursday in Greg's room

10:30:  Jean
10:40:  Phuong
10:50:  Monny
11:00:  Suzan
11:10:  America
11:20:  Fatima
11:30:  Merry
11:40:  Maryam
11:50:  Kexin
12:00:  Ibrahim
12:10:  Sam
12:20:  Zhao
12:30:  Tim
12:40:
12:50:

Sara, Moath, and Hamzah:  Will you be here for conferences?

Huntsville Field Trip - List - Contact Info

Hi guys

      This is the info about the field trip to Huntsville, is on April 24. The meeting to load the busses is at the UC at 8:30AM, we will leave at aprox 9AM. We will leave the park to return at campus at a pro 2:30PM and be back by 5PM.

      There is no cost for this trip. If you plan on driving separately , there will be a parking fee of $2 per person.

      Bring recreational equipment  such as footballs, soccer balls, etc.

      Canoes will be available to rent

      Swimming and hiking is also available

Once again ALCOHOL IS NOT ALLOWED


This is the list of things that we have to carry to the picnic. Holly & Team Saudi are in charge of the hamburgers and hotdogs. Please let me know want are you going to buy for the picnic and don't throw away the receipt, at the end we are going to need them to see how much money we need to pay to those who bought the food or things.

If you have any question please don't hesitate on contact me or Holly.

This is my number 832-205-07-63, to my email dennis@angeris.net , Facebook or Twitter (@dnis88)

Send me your pictures!

I will include them in the final version of the video for you.

Thank you to America and Phuoung for sending me pictures already.

Answers to practice reading exam

1. A  2. B  3.A  4.C  5.B   6.C   7.A   8. A    9.B  10. D
11. A  12. B  13. D  14. D  15. A  16. B  17. C  18. A  19. D  20. A

What you need to know...

1.  Tomorrow we will combine classes, most likely in 109.
8:30-10 a.m. with Greg
10-12:30 with me (reading test plus surprise)

2.  Bring your final folders, which should contain your tests and writing from the second half of the class (since midterm). For my class, that means listening tests and reading tests that you have. I realize that the purpose and tone test and the organizational patterns work was on line.

If you forget to bring your folder tomorrow, bring it to me or Greg on Monday before or after the writing sample. If you don't find us at the LCC, ask someone in the office to put your folder in our box.

3.  This is from the office:  Please update your cougarnet password. You'll need an updated password to register for next term.

4.  Field trip to Huntsville is next Wednesday. We need to know who is planning to go by LCC bus. Please let me know so we can get a good count and have enough spaces for everybody. You are also welcome to drive there if you wish.

5.  Your take-home reading test is due tomorrow.

Please send me pictures

If you have pictures from the party last night, from the picnic, or from during the semester, PLEASE SEND THEM TO ME RIGHT NOW!!!

Compass Test Tomorrow

Guys!

I want to wish you success on tomorrow's test.

Some motherly advice: It's VERY IMPORTANT to get enough sleep so that your mind will be quick and sharp tomorrow. PLEASE TURN OFF THIS BLOG. TURN OFF YOUR PHONE. TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER AND GO TO SLEEP BY 11 P.M. SO YOU WILL BE FRESH IN THE MORNING.

ALSO, make sure to eat a good breakfast so you'll be able to concentrate on the test.

Tomorrow night, you can relax and celebrate. You can look forward to a international delicious dinner:
1.  Spring rolls (Hang and Phuong)
2.  Arepas (America and Team Venezuela/Bolivia)
3.  Kebsa (Ahmed and Suliman)
4.  Kebab (a special treat from a former Turkish student)
5.  Salads
6.  Chocolate brownies (famous American dessert)

Your final videos (updated)

It's not a race, but Team China is definitely in the lead. Kexin, Sam, Vicky, Jinda, Xiao, Tim, and Zhao--great work! Serena is in too.

Team Vietnam--IN

Team Latin America--I received videos from America, Dennis, and Karina.

Team KSA--I have only received one video from Ibrahim, but I'm expecting work from Fatimah and Maryam, who have spoken with me.

Teamless students: Igor

If my numbers are correct, I'm at about 50% participation here. I hope this number will not correlate with the passing rate from 5A and 5B :(

Please let me know if you have not been accounted for above!

Smart kittens (they like to read)

Cooking for the party

Dear Students,

For the party Tuesday night, I'd love to have some food or drink represented from each country.

The only thing is that all of the cooking/preparation must be done at my home--and I have to discuss the ingredients with you--due to some religious restrictions I have when it comes to food.  So if you're interested in cooking, or just in helping, it would be great if you could come over to my house early on Tuesday to prepare.

Let me know!

Linguistic Intelligece?

Class tomorrow

We'll be combining classes tomorrow. We'll start out in the room next to mine.

8:30-11:30:  I'll be teaching. We'll have the lecture and listening test and we'll also discuss/work on argument, so bring your reading book. You don't need your listening book.

We might also watch the first part of the movie Holes, if we have time. I'm not sure yet. I hope so.

11:30-12:30:  Test with Greg.

Get your hearing checked for free (but also check out the use of statistics in this promotion)

Free Hearing Screenings offered at The University Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic Department Communication Sciences and Disorders 713-743-0915 Did you know?  Thirty-six million Americans have hearing loss.  One in three developed their hearing loss as a result of exposure to noise.  Approximately 12% of all children ages 6-19 have noise-induced hearing loss.  Noise exposure is a known cause of permanent hearing loss.  How much is too much exposure?

Source of noise Length of exposure resulting in permanent hearing loss Rock concert; chain saw [110 dB] More than one minute Power tools; string trimmer More than 15 minutes Power mower; heavy city traffic Prolonged exposure

In recognition of May as Better Hearing and Speech Month, free hearing screenings will be held in May (for anyone 10 years or older). The University Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic: A United Way Facility invites you get your hearing screened. Screenings will take place every Friday in May from 8:30-10:30am and from 1:30-3:30pm. No appointment necessary. Screenings will be done on a first come first serve basis. The USLHC is located at Entrance 8 at 4505 Cullen Blvd.

Michele Leonard USLHC Receptionist University of Houston A Carnegie-designated Tier One Public Research University Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders 100 Clinical Research Center Houston, TX 77204-6018 713-743-0915 (office) 713-743-2926 (fax) mmandeville@uh.edu

LCC Soccer Team News

Hi All,

So the soccer team is in the playoffs and we are one of the number 1 seeds. We have games this week-end on Saturday 4/13 at 2 PM. Should we win our first game, we will be playing again on Sunday 4/14 at 4 PM.

If we win both games this week-end we will be playing in the semi final next Friday 4/19 at 3 PM, where we should be playing much more formidable competition.

Please let me know if you have any questions,

Eriberto Calderon

GO EAGLES!!!

Extra reading help on townsendpress.net

For practice, I have opened up some exercises and tests on "argument" in "Ten Steps to Advancing Reading" (that's the book we used last term in level 6). This is great reading exercise for your brain!

Sound familiar at all?

The Teacher Bias Against Girls and Math

By KJ DELL'ANTONIA

Another discouraging research headline: Teachers Think White Females Lag Behind in Math.
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin found that high school math teachers rated the math abilities of their white female students lower than those of their white male peers, even when their grades and test scores were comparable. (The researchers say previous research has already documented a racial bias.)
In examining the data from a cohort of 15,000 students from their sophomore year of high school, into higher education and the work force, Catherine Riegle-Crumb found a “subtle” but “definitely present” tendency among high school teachers to deem their white female students less competent than white male students with similar grades and scores, and to consider them less comfortable in a particular math class, or to be less capable of advancing.
The bias “may very well be something they are not consciously aware of,” says Dr. Riegle-Crumb, but that doesn’t mean it’s without influence. How do we help our teenage girls combat that?

Bring your listening books tomorrow, and 5B, come on time or you'll miss an important part of the test

Please send me your pictures

Hi Guys,

If you've taken pictures this term, would you please send them to me (if they're good)? Maybe you have photos from our picnic, or from a Friday Fun Day?

If you're interested in how statistics can deceive, check out this powerpoint

http://cseweb.ucsd.edu/~ricko/CSE3/Lie_with_Statistics.pdf

Attention UH applicants

Sam Long has asked me to provide him with the names of students who have applied to the University of Houston for Summer or Fall 2013.

If this is you, please let me know.

If the topic interests you...

More videos on BODY LANGUAGE (they're short)

1. This one is about aggressive body language:
http://vodpod.com/watch/3167407-how-to-read-body-language-examples-of-aggressive-body-language

2. This one is about the McCain/Obama debates (before the 2008 election). The expert evaluates their body language. You might find this interesting.
http://cnettv.cnet.com/obama-mccain-body-language/9742-1_53-50054885.html

3. And body language in the workplace...
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6250380n

4. The body language of FEAR:
http://www.ehow.com/video_4438808_examples-insecure-body-language.html

5. OPEN body language:
http://www.ehow.com/video_4438802_examples-open-body-language.html

6. The importance of eye contact:
http://www.ehow.com/video_4438811_importance-eye-contact-body-language.html

7. How to flirt (show attention to the opposite sex):
http://www.ehow.com/video_4438796_flirt-body-language.html

Final schedule

Monday, April 8 (in the Call Lab):

Body Language video (part 1)

Facts and opinions part 1

HW: RS, pp. 286-291, read “Free and Uneasy” and answer the comprehension questions

Tuesday, April 9:

Facts and opinions, part 2

Body Language video (part 2)

HW:  RS, pp. 436-439, read the two articles and answer the comprehension check questions (for Thursday)

Wednesday, April 10:

Body language listening test

RS, argument, part one

Argument fallacies (from “Improving Skills”)

HW:  Townsendpress.net, chapter on argument

Thursday, April 11:

RS, argument, part two

ALE, chapter 8 lecture

Friday, April 12:

ALE, listening test

RS, bias

Monday: Vocabulary test Holes 36-50 plus reading questions

Tuesday:  Compass Test

Tuesday night:  Class party at my house

Thursday: Reading test on facts/opinions, bias, and arguments

Class tomorrow (Monday) in the Call Lab

8:30-10:20:  Greg's class
10:30-12:30:  My class
first half of my class--fact and opinion (bring your reading book)
second half--body language video/note taking

Help with infinitives

Infinitives from holly_cin

Help with Gerunds

Gerunds from holly_cin


Also, here is a video I made explaining gerunds with the above powerpoint:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ogfBsyCf5w   (part one)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYf1d0Xs7dA  (part two) 
 

Grammar help with gerunds

Gerundslides from holly_cin

The purpose of these slides is to help you remember certain verbs and preposition combinations which are followed by gerunds. 

Some help with causative verbs

Causativeverbs from holly_cin

Since I was in Greg's class today, I thought I'd give you this powerpoint to help you out. 

Have a great weekend

We've got a lot going on in the next two weeks, so please work hard to keep up.

Homework:

--> 

DUE before MONDAY's class:

RS, pp. 280-281, vocabulary (exercises 2 and 3)

RS, pp. 304-309, read “Some Say Cop Videos Misleading” and answer the comprehension questions Also, underline the stated opinions, and explain why it’s an opinion in the opinion box. FOR Monday.

DUE SUNDAY NIGHT:

If you haven’t already done so, complete the tests on townsendpress.net (10 Steps to Improving relationships I and II, mastery tests I, II, and III—this is for a grade. I recommend you do the practice exercises as well). 

The following people have done none or nearly none of the townsendpress.net work which has been assigned this semester:

Suliman, Essa, Talal, Moath, Ahmed, Ibrahim, Jean, Rita, Monny, Jinda, Francisco, Hamzah, Tim, Xiao, Kexin, Zhao, and Sara

Congratulations. 

Note to these students:  If you don't pass the level on your own, I will not make an appeal for you to go to level 6.  Ask Jean and Suliman if a lawyer can win a case without evidence. Moreover, as written in my syllabus and explained early in the term, letters of recommendations will only be written for those students who are in good standing with the work in the class. My work includes the website and all blog assignments.

Finally, I have seen a close correlation between your performance on the reading website and your performance on reading tests. Those who are doing the work are improving in their reading skills. Those who are not doing the work are not. It's very simple. You don't have to be a genius to figure it out!

Final Presentation Videos

Final Presentations: Body Language, Touch, Space, and Artifacts in Your Culture

Prepare a 5-7 minute presentation on some aspect of body language, touch, space, AND/OR artifacts that we should be aware of if we visit your country. For example, regarding space, what is the proper space between people on a bus? At a bus stop? In the elevator? In the supermarket? Regarding touch, who can touch whom and how? Think same sex contact and think opposite sex contact.

Tell us what we can do, what we should do, and what we shouldn't do if we want to avoid trouble in your country. For example, I would tell you that if you visit Boston, don't wear a New York Yankees shirt or cap because the people in Boston consider the Yankees their enemies and they are very serious about sports, especially baseball. So New York Yankee shirts and caps would be ARTIFACTS to avoid if you're traveling to Boston if you want to avoid a fight.

You may also want to teach us the proper ETIQUETTE for a certain situation (weddings/funerals/parties/meeting your girlfriend's or boyfriend's parents for the first time/etc)

Please tell me what you're thinking about presenting before doing it just to check that you're "on the right track."

Be thoughtful. Be creative.
Remember to make an interesting introduction, a well-organized body, and conclude in a memorable way (not just "I'm done")!

This is an opportunity for you to teach the class about your country and culture from an angle that we don't often consider.

Because we won't have enough time for everyone to present live, I'm asking each of you to prepare a video for me and your classmates to view.

This video is due Monday, April 15th.

Blog Writing # 10: Responding to some readings about body language (due Monday)

1. How to end a date (notice the "closing gesture" that is suggested).
http://yahoo.match.com/y/article.aspx?articleid=5942&TrackingID=526103&BannerID=741573

2. Some elevator etiquette advice from an expert:

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art35755.asp

For this assignment, all you have to do is READ the 3 short articles above and post a comment about what's interesting, funny, or strange to you.

Elevator Etiquette

The Do's and Dont's in an elevator!

Blog Writing #9: Misunderstanding Body Language

Please tell us about a time where you misunderstood a message due to misreading some aspect of body language (gestures, posture, facial expression, tone of voice, space, or touch).

He gave me "the finger."

Thanks, Hamzah, for telling me about this.

Reading Body Language

Listen to this video and tell me what sounds familiar to you.

Work for Friday

RS, pp. 280-281, vocabulary (exercises 2 and 3)

RS, pp. 304-309, read “Some Say Cop Videos Misleading” and answer the comprehension questions Also, underline the stated opinions, and explain why its an opinion in the opinion box.

Holes vocab test 36-40 will be moved to next week.

See you tomorrow!

Hi Guys!

I'm really sorry about not coming back today. I boarded the flight at 6 a.m., and sat on the plane until 7 a.m., when the pilot announced from the cockpit that the plane was missing its radar (or something unbelievable like that) and that we had to de-plane (yes, that's a word). They put us all on another plane, but by the time we got off and on and they loaded the luggage and the plane got on the runway, it was about 9 a.m. So my plane didn't land in Houston until roughly 11 a.m.

There is an expression:  "Man plans; G-d laughs." So I guess I gave G-d a good laugh today. But I wasn't laughing ;)

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Please bring both books. We'll be discussing touch, space, and artifacts as well as facts and opinions. So its going to be a full day. Don't miss it.

On Friday, I'll be teaching everyone together for the first two hours in room 301 of the LCC bldg. (Greg is giving me "makeup time' from today). For the last two hours, we'll be having a Friday Fun Day:  Holes Edition. Get ready for some fun.

Rough schedule for the week

Level 5AB/Cin/Spring 2013

Schedule, week ten (Touch, space, and artifacts; facts and opinions and author bias)

Books:

1. Read to Succeed, by David Rothman and Jilani Warsi (RS)
2. Academic Listening Encounters, by Miriam Espeseth (ALE)
3. Holes, by Louis Sachar

Monday, April 1 (in the Call Lab): Listen to lecture Reading test (organizational patterns)

Tuesday, April 2: Listening test ALE, chapter 8, part one HW:  Holes vocabulary test tomorrow, ch. 31-35 ALE, chapter 8, vocabulary before the interviews

Wednesday, April 3 (Holly returns): ALE, chapter 8, part two Vocabulary test, Holes 31-35 HW:  ALE, chapter 8, vocabulary before the lecture Reading homework TBA

Thursday, April 4: ALE, chapter 8, lecture and note taking Facts and opinions/bias HW: Holes vocabulary test tomorrow, ch. 36-40 Reading homework TBA

Friday, March 5: Listening test Holes vocabulary test 36-40 FRIDAY FUN DAY (last two hours) HW: TBA

Have a great weekend

Hi Guys!

How are you doing? I hope you had a great week with Dr. Archer. I would love to hear what you discovered and learned, and I look forward to continuing discussing body language and touch, space, and artifacts when I return.

I checked townsendpress.net and I see that only a few of you have done the work I assigned on relationships I and II, which is all about organizational patterns. You are expected to do these before coming to class on Monday. I assure you that these exercises will be very helpful for your reading. There might be a reading quiz on this in the Call Lab on Monday.

I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Yours,
HC

p.s. both classes on Monday will meet together in the Call Lab.
The schedule will be as follows:
8:30-9:50  first class with Greg
10:10-11:30   second class with Dr. Archer
11:30:  Course evaluations in the Call Lab (both classes together)

p.p.s Holes vocabulary test 31-35 on Tuesday or Wednesday and 36-40 on Friday. I'd like you to finish the book soon.

UH admission deadline

The deadline to apply for undergraduate admission to UH is APRIL 1, without exception. If you pass level 6 in the summer, they would apply the TOEFL waiver.

Why I Want a Wife: Holly's Response

"Why I Want a Wife" was written by June Brady in 1971 in the USA. It is significant that this article was written by a WOMAN because if it had been written by a man, then the tone would not be ironic at all. If a man had written it, we wouldn't be laughing. In fact, the women would be saying "what a jerk" and "I never want to get married if this is what's expected!"  However, this piece is clearly ironic. We know that from the way she repeats "I want a wife who..." basically does EVERYTHING. (On a side note, if any of you have studied Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," you know that when Marc Antony says that "Brutus is an honorable man," he means exactly the opposite. He repeats the word "honorable" but he he is being ironic.)

Ms. Brady does not literally want a wife, but she's sarcastically saying that with all of the responsibilities and functions a wife performs, who wouldn't want one? Her audience is WOMEN because this article was published in a WOMEN's magazine. So her purpose is not to change men, because men aren't the target audience, but to make fun and joke with women about the expectations that women feel they must fulfill.

Is Ms. Brady anti-marriage? Is she persuading women to leave their husbands and fight the injustice? No, that would be a very radical position. That's not what she's advocating. However, she thinks the expectations set for women are unrealistic and also unfair. She clearly believes that there is a DOUBLE STANDARD--that men seem to have much more freedom than women.

Brady chooses irony and humor to express her point of view. However, you can imagine a woman who wants to express these same feelings in an angry and rebellious way. It would sound something like "it's unfair that..."  "I am angry that..." "it's not right that..." but would the message be as effective? It would just sound like someone complaining.

Reading test today on Purpose and Tone

For your reading test today, go to townsendpress.net

Click on "10 Steps to Advancing College Reading Skills."

Go to Chapter 8:  Purpose and tone

Dr. Archer will assign teams and she will tell you which assignment to do.

After teams are assigned, please post a comment here telling me who your teammate is.

Rough schedule for the week

Dr. Archer might change this schedule slightly. You will also have to keep up with her reading, which I'm sure will be interesting. I hope you enjoy your time with her. I'm sure you will have a special experience this week. Also, please do the work on organizational patterns of reading which I've assigned on a different post. If you have any questions, please post a comment or email me and I  will try to respond (holly_cin@yahoo.com). Monday, March 25 (in the Call Lab): Presentations Reading test (purpose and tone) HW:  “Why I Want a Wife” blog response

Tuesday, March 26: Cultural adjustment discussion, part one Presentations (complete) HW:  Holes vocabulary test tomorrow, ch. 21-30

Wednesday, March 27: ALE, chapter 7, part one Cultural differences, part two Vocabulary test, Holes 21-30 HW:  ALE, chapter 7, vocabulary before the interviews

Thursday, March 28: ALE, chapter 7, part two (interviews) Culture issues, part three HW:  ALE, chapter 7, vocabulary before the lecture

Friday, March 29: Lecture and note taking Culture issues, part four Listening test from notes on Monday

Answers to purpose and tone practice (handout)

If you disagree with any of these answers, let me know.

1.  C  B
2. B   A
3. B   B
4. C  A
5. A  A
6.  C  A
7.  C  A
8. A   A
9.  B  A
10.  C  B

Blog Writing #9: Analyzing "Why I Want a Wife" (due Monday night 11:59 p.m.)

If you misplaced or lost your article, you can find it here:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-rIza1967iVQjBZUlFUTDNtSGM/edit?usp=sharing

Use your critical thinking skills to answer the following questions regarding the above article.

0.  Did you read this article?

1.  Who wrote it? Is the author significant?

2.  What kind of writing is it (novel/story/letter to the editor/textbook article/magazine article/etc.)?

3.  Who is the audience?  In other words, who was it written for?

4.  When was it written?  Is this significant?

5.  Where was it written? Does this matter?

6.  Why was it written?  In other words, what is it's PURPOSE (inform/instruct/entertain/persuade)?

7.  How was it written?  Describe the TONE. Use words or phrases FROM THE TEXT that support your answer. As you know, there can be more than one answer to describe tone.

8.  What does the author REALLY want?

You can answer these questions one by one in complete sentences (less challenging), or in paragraph form (more challenging).

I look forward to reading your responses.

Reading while I'm gone

I'm going to ask you to do the work on townsendpress.net for CHAPTERS 5 and 6 on ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERNS ("Relationships 1, Relationships 2, and Relationships 1 and 2).  This will help you a lot with reading comprehension. I'd like you to finish it before I return April 3.

First, watch the video lesson. Sign in and click on the book "10 Steps to Advanced Reading." This is not the book that we've been using for exercises. This is the more advanced book that we used in level 6. However, I'm opening up the exercises for you to practice, if you wish. The main thing is to watch the video and then do the exercises and mastery tests in "Ten Steps to Improving." You are welcome to try the exercises and tests in the more advanced book as well. It's all FANTASTIC PRACTICE. Trust me!

Between the videos, the practice, and your knowledge of organizational patterns from essay writing, you will be able to complete this lesson on your own. This can help you a lot when it comes to taking standardized tests (for those of you focusing on TOEFL and GRE). Most importantly, it will make reading easier for you and you will become a better reader.

A mini intelligence test for you (due Monday)

Karina, Maeva, America, and Maryam do not need to answer these questions because I see that they did the work which was assigned in a timely manner. Abdulrahman started, but must have gotten scared or discouraged, because then he stopped :)

So some questions to test your intelligence:

1.  Holly assigns homework because:
    A. She's cruel.
    B. She believes the students are bored.
    C. She wants the students to practice the skills they learn in class.

2.  I don't do the homework on the townsendpress.net website because:
     A. I already know everything. I'm only taking this class to keep my visa.
     B. I couldn't care less about purpose and tone.
     C. Website? What website?

3.  After this semester, I plan:
      A. to go to level six.
      B. to repeat level five.
     C. to return to my country and never speak English again.

Presentation Schedule: Updated again.

I decided that I don't want any of you to make a video, as I said earlier. No, I want you to present in front of the class. I was surprised (and disappointed) that so many of you weren't ready to present--especially after having spring break to think about it--but I still want you to have the opportunity to present in front of your classmates. That's what this experience at the LCC is about. So I've rearranged the schedule. We will be on a tight schedule to do this, so everybody has to stick to their 8-10 minute limit. I will stop you when you go over 10 minutes. The 10 minutes does not include questions. If you don't bring me the sheets that showed me you presented in front of your friends before presenting in front of the class, I will take off points from your presentation.

5A


Thursday: Xiao, Igor
Friday: Abdulrahman, Jennifer, Vicky, Ahmed
Monday: Francisco, Serena, Talal, Essa,
Tuesday:  Maeva, Hang, Rita

5B



Friday: Merry, America, Maryam, Zhao, Tim
Monday: Sara, Kexin, Hamzah, Suzan
Tuesday: Phuong, Moath

Some of my feedback

1. I responded to many of your voicethreads on "labels" and "failure." You can click on my icon and you'll see what I wrote. For the most part, I was quite impressed with your fluency. I was also impressed with your honesty.

2.  I responded to Blog #7. Please look at America's response to question #3 to understand the answer.

Regarding the main idea, there is more than one way to express it and many of you gave reasonable answers. Personally, I would express the main idea of this article as follows:

The rules for what is acceptable "techno-etiquette" is rapidly changing; but many Americans seem to be saying "enough is enough" with our bad techno-manners.

3.  The answers to the reading comprehension questions are as follows:
1. B
2. C.
3. C.
4. A.
5. C.
6. D.
7. B.
8. B.
9. C.
10. C.
If you have any questions about these answers, please ask me (either on the blog or in class!).

Compass Test information

Please check your email (either the email you gave me at the beginning of the semester or the gmail account that I got from the blog) for some important information regarding the Compass test at the end of the semester.

If you did not receive it, please post a comment.

Your Multiple Intelligence Presentation Videos

5A:

Karina

http://youtu.be/mGlvB9ymI90

Dennis, part 1

http://youtu.be/_qKRwn35gFs

Dennis, part 2

http://youtu.be/8zwSdkwhH5Y

Suliman (not recorded)

Xiao:
http://youtu.be/DBY31D0nvaI

Igor:
http://youtu.be/IFzGRN55isk

Jennifer:
http://youtu.be/SldCnHr-G2w

Abdulrahman 2:
http://youtu.be/s-qZcjdJkBQ

Vicky:
http://youtu.be/1OaOVggDcAg

Francisco : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27DO2cH4r4Q

Serena: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McjObYkbxlI

Hang : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHG4qSaU9Fg

Rita: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_1YvW1hcow

Jinda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkrkYgiwHjA

Maeva: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k6epXFPJQ4

Ahmed: not recorded successfully

Talal:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsAa0O6OcCg&feature=youtu.be

Essa: no presentation


5B:

Fatimah:  not recorded

Ibrahim:
http://youtu.be/spkaFkmgN7g

Monny:
http://youtu.be/csEWFAkd_4k

Jean:
http://youtu.be/BzfSGH_fAlk

Merry:
http://youtu.be/mK_OXrk8DPg

Maryam:
http://youtu.be/B_I2Aegclng

Sam:
http://youtu.be/sv3P3l8EP1M

America:
http://youtu.be/tTsCvgShS4k
 
Zhao:
http://youtu.be/DW5kjn8Pnrs

Tim:
http://youtu.be/1tfAhhGCkCk
 
Phuong Le:
http://youtu.be/2lk7jlFmDl8
 
Kexin:

http://youtu.be/BIYfUihPSU0

 

Sara:

http://youtu.be/03OkHHP1-3o

 

Suzan:
http://youtu.be/u0UAEz4RaB4

Hamzah:

Moath:

Blog Writing #8: The Story of Katharine and Sam (due Wednesday)

In your own words, tell the story of Katharine and Sam. Include as many details as you can.

Holes vocabulary makeup test

If you missed the test on the Friday before spring break, I will give you the test on Tuesday after class in my room.

Are you ready to come back?

I hope you had a good break. Please tell us what you did during the break as a comment to this post.

Tomorrow, we won't be combining classes. I'll have 5B in the Call Lab first and then 5A in the Call Lab second. This is so that I can have presentations in both classes.

Please be prepared to discuss or write about Holes tomorrow in the Call Lab. I expect you to have finished the first half of the book (until chapter 28, I think).

We have a busy week ahead. I look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow!

Some multiple intelligence presentations from former students

Hiro's presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyEZrM-Sw6s

Leslie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9y1aWBWa0M

Khalid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdFwt90J1vU

(this one is way too long but I think its brilliant)

Getting together during the break

Hi Guys! I hope you're having a good break. I just returned from Chicago last night, where it was snowing when we left. We had a very good visit with my husband's family.

I'd love to hear what you guys are doing (I hope something fun).

I'd like to know who's interested in getting together for a picnic and football or soccer game on Sunday around noon, so post a comment if you're in. Of course friends, spouses, and kids are invited too.

5AB's Got Talent

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

I forgot to have everyone sing to you today!  Oh no!  I hope you can forgive me!

Guys, please sing happy birthday to America tomorrow in all of your languages!!!

Work over the break

First of all, I hope you guys have a fantastic spring break.

I hate to ruin the party, but I want to mention a few upcoming assignments:

1. Blog Writing #7 (due Monday)

2. Presentation preparation (on the blog). We'll have 3 presentations/day the week we return. You will find the presentation schedule on that post.

3. Read Holes until chapter 28 (until part two). We'll have a vocabulary test chapters 21-30 the week you come back (not sure which day).

4.  Comment on your classmates' voicethread. Some of you finished that in class today. If you didn't, listen to the three people who came after you on "Learning from Failure." Then type a comment to all 3 of them. Tell them if you understood them or didn't understand them. Then you can write whatever you wish.

5. Go to the townsendpress.net
Below the sign in, go to "try out exercises."
Go to "10 Steps to Advanced Reading."
There are exercises for every topic that are at an advanced level.
There is also an EXCELLENT video lesson for each skill (which I recommend for EVERYBODY), which is great for both reading and listening.

Listen to AT LEAST the following three short lessons on the website. You can go directly to them:

about main idea:

http://www.townsendpress.net/class/exercises/assignment/19/2137

about purpose and tone:

http://www.townsendpress.net/class/exercises/assignment/19/2187 

about active reading, in general:

http://www.townsendpress.net/class/exercises/assignment/19/2190 

 When we return from spring break, we'll get to "purpose and tone." If you want to get a head start, you can do the exercises on purpose and tone on the website.

 

Class on Friday

At 8:30, meet at the room next to Holly's classroom.

Blog Writing # 7: Responding to article "Four Score...Mind If I Take That?" (due Monday)

1. The article opens with a story about former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. What does Giuliani do during his speech at the National Rifle Association? How does this story begin the discussion of cell phone use?

2. Which countries are used as examples to discuss cell phone behavior in the article? How does it help the reader to learn about etiquette in various countries?

3. How does the article end? Do you think the last couple of sentences of the article give an insight into the author’s feelings about cell phone use? Why or why not?

4.  What is the main idea of the article? Remember--the main idea must be a SENTENCE. It's the main point that the author is trying to make

Presentations on your multiple intelligences (UPDATED parts in RED)

1. Do your research.

Read the information at:
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f01/web2/wise.html

And listen to the short lecture at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2QtSbP4FRg


You can also find more information if you do some research on Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory.

And here is another EXCELLENT website to read, which really explains a lot:

http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/mi/index_sub1.html



2. Think about your own intelligences. You are probably intelligent in many of the ways described in Gardner’s theory but choose one or two of your best areas. You can take the multiple intelligence quiz that I've given you as a handout or go to (http://www.rappispellread.com/MItest.pdf) to help you learn more about your intelligences.


3. For your presentation:

First, explain to the class how you are intelligent in that way and give us some examples. For instance, “I believe that I’m musically intelligent. I can hear a song on the radio and then play it on the piano. I’ve been doing this since I was 5 years old. Also, when I hear a symphony, I can distinguish the sounds of the different instruments, etc., etc.”

Second, explain how that intelligence could be applied to learning a subject, or a SPECIFIC lesson. The subject does not have to be English or language. It could be physics or economics or whatever you would like. So, for example, if you are musically intelligent, learning infinitives or calculus equations in a song might be a good way for you to learn that lesson. I want you to TEACH us your lesson!

Today in class I gave you an example of how I could teach a grammar lesson (adjective clauses) in different ways. I used linguistic, mathematical, and musical ways to teach the grammar. I also could have used interpersonal intelligence (maybe by writing a skit, or acting out a scene).

Here are some other thoughts from the website cited above:

"You may come to regard intellectual ability more broadly. Drawing a picture, composing, or listening to music, watching a performance -- these activities can be a vital door to learning -- as important as writing and mathematics. Studies show that many students who perform poorly on traditional tests are turned on to learning when classroom experiences incorporate artistic, athletic, and musical activities.

Take music, for example. As educator, David Thornburg of the Thornburg Institute notes,

"The mood of a piece of music might communicate, clearer than words, the feeling of an era being studied in history. The exploration of rhythm can help some students understand fractions. The exploration of the sounds of an organ can lead to an understanding of vibrational modes in physics. What caused the great scientist Kepler to think of the motions of planets in musical terms? Astronomy students could program a synthesizer to play Kepler's 'music of the spheres' and explore history, science, math and music all at once."

I know this isn't so easy but I want you to think hard and to be creative in your ideas and teach all of us something new! You should speak for 7-10 minutes.

A good presentation will have an interesting and engaging introduction, a well-organized body, and a definite conclusion (do not end your presentation with "that's all!.")

Before your present in front of the class, I want you to present in front of at least two people (who could be your classmates) to get feedback. The feedback form is below. Please have them fill out the form and turn it in to me. Your classmates will fill out similar feedback forms when they watch you present in class.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-rIza1967iVeWZnQmlpQnQwd3M/edit?usp=sharing

Presentation Schedule:
5A
Monday: Dennis, Karina
Tuesday: Suliman, Essa
Wednesday: Ahmed, Abdulrahman, Rita, Xiao
Thursday: Igor, Hang, Jinda,Vicky
Friday: Jennifer, Maeva, Francisco, Serena, Talal

5B
Monday: 
Tuesday: Fatimah, Ibrahim, Moath, Jean
Wednesday: Sam, Suzan, Monny, Phuong
Thursday: Merry, America, Hamzah, Zhao
Friday: Tim, Sara, Kexin, Maryam

https://voicethread.com/groups/subscribe/93013/6cf0ee86b/

Kitty cats, anybody?

 Say hello to Sushi, Sashimi, Wasabi, Ginger, and Teriyaki (Teri for short)

So do I have any takers?